Topolovambo

Exceptional. We attended Topolobambo for the first time for their Day of the Dead menu. From the service to the wine selection to the tasting menu, every aspect of the experience was phenomenal. We were thrilled to see Rick Bayless present and speaking with patrons. Some highlights for us were the Pipian and the (off menu surprise) machaca tacos. Highly recommended.

Had a private party at the library room at Topolobampo. Very tasty food in a nice ambience. There is a nice mirror that shows the food being prepared. And it is apparently the largest library of Mexican cookbooks in the country. Food was tasty though portion size was a touch small. Staff is friendly and location is very central. Happy to return.

Topolobampo is a must try in Chicago! The experience from beginning to end is incredible! All the dishes are flavorful, well balanced, yet still tastes like authentic Mexican food. There were only a couple of dishes that were slightly oversalted, but we still ate everything. I highly recommend adding on a drink pairing with your meal. We had a total of 6 courses paired with 5 wines. The selections were spot on and enhanced each dish. The atmosphere itself is very relaxing. The wait staff were attentive and kind, which made the evening more enjoyable. If you have dietary restrictions, still try to go! Our dinner party is always a challenge since one person is vegetarian and the other has both a tree nut and seafood allergy. The chef was able to accommodate all our dietary restrictions without compromising quality. I could go on and on about all the wonderful aspects of this restaurant. I am definitely recommending this place to everyone I know- it's worth every cent we paid, and more! I plan on coming back again in the future!

Overall we enjoyed the evening - good company and good flavor. But pacing was very strange with waits between courses of around 20min and at least once where we were asked how the food was twice in between courses when no food had been served since the last time it was asked. Maybe the kitchen was running behind or something. In terms of the menu, we were there for the pre-Columbian menu. The dishes were very yummy, but I had a hard time differentiating them. All just one rich mole type sauce after the next. So although each was delicious, a series of 4-5 in a row was boring. We still had a good time, but with the bad pacing, uninspiring menu, and high cost, I wouldn't return.

An elegant set dinner in a beautiful space. Overall, my brother and I enjoyed the six-course meal, made up solely of ingredients from the pre-Columbian world. However, while the dishes were incredibly flavorful and bold, I found the absence of dairy and sugar resulted in an unmet need for something to offset the savory flavors. Moreover, the pacing of the meal was very slow - it took 3 hours to receive all six dishes. This didn't seem to bother other patrons, but I felt the pacing could definitely have been improved. Of all the dishes, my favorites were the quail (incredibly tender!) and the chocolate dessert. The scallops & octopus were also well cooked and delicious. The only dish I didn't care for was the peanut cake - the flavors were fairly boring. I'm glad to have tried Topolobampo, though in all honesty, given the amount of food received for $200, I would be more likely to recommend other set dinners in Chicago for a better value.

We went here for a pre-columbian tasting menu, featuring ingredients from Central America prior to the Spanish colonial period. The food offered unusual tastes that you probably have not encountered. The flavors are generally creamy but light with a hint of spiciness. The service was quite good, though a little slow. The ambience inside the Topolobampo area (it's connected to its cousin Mexican restaurant) is warming and comforting, though a little small. Given the price, it's worth a try to get an experience of new flavors. Note that they change the menu quite often, so it's worth checking with the restaurant before committing to the reservation and deposit.